Folding picnic basket



May 1, 1962 R. c. GERBER 3,032,230

FOLDING PICNIC BASKET Filed May 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Roy 6. Gerber BY 2mm WW 3 M35 United States Patent 3,032,230 FOLDING PICNIC BASKET Roy C. Gerber, Rte. 1, Versailles, Mo. Filed May 19, 1960, Ser. No. 30,343 Claims. (Cl. 2206) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in picnic baskets and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a receptacle of this character which, when it is not in use, is adapted to be expeditiously and compactly folded or collapsed for storage.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a basket of the aforementioned character comprising common means for carrying the open basket and for securing the same in folded position.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide, in a folding picnic basket comprising end walls each of which includes a pair of complemental flaps, novel means for detachably connecting the free ends of said flaps when the basket is opened for use.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a folding picnic basket of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a folding picnic basket constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom perspective view of the removable tray or false bottom;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the device partially folded with portions of the handles broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the basket completely folded;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view showing the device opened and lying flat;

FIGURE 6 is a view in transverse section through the open basket; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail view in section through one of the hinges.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially rectangular bottom of suitable material which is designated generally by reference character 8. The bottom 8, which may also be of any desired dimensions, comprises a pair of complemental half-sections 9 having their inner longitudinal edges hingedly connected at 10. A laterally projecting cover strip 11 (see FIGURE 6) is provided on one of the bottom sections 9 for the hinge 10.

Hingedly secured at 12 on the longitudinal edges of the bottom 8 is a pair of side walls 13. A pair of cover sections 14 are hingedly mounted at 15 on the side walls 13. A strip 16 is secured longitudinally on one of the cover sections 14 and overlies the corresponding portion of the other of said cover sections when the basket is unfolded for use.

End walls 17 are mounted on the side walls 13. Each end wall 17 comprises a pair of complemental flaps 18 and 19 which are hingedly mounted as indicated at 20 on the ends of the side walls 13. Formed integrally with the free ends of the flaps 18 and 19 are interlocking hooks or lugs 21 for detachably connecting said flaps. When thus connected the flaps 18 and 19 are aligned 3,032,230 Patented May 1, 1962 end portions of the flaps 19. The hooks or lugs 21, when interlocked, are also between the elements 22.

Reference character 23 designates a pair of loop-type carrying handles or straps of suitable flexible material having their end portions secured as indicated at 24 to the side walls 13 at longitudinally spaced points.

A false bottom or tray for the basket is indicated at 25 in FIGURE 2 of the drawing. The false bottom or tray 25 includes depending side walls 26 and a single end wall 27. Thus, the false bottom or tray 25 is open at one end. Finger holes or openings 28 are provided to facilitate removing the false bottom or tray 25 from the basket.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the basket in open position for use as shown in FEGURES l and 6 of the drawing, the hinged cover sections 14 may be conveniently raised for permitting full access to be had to said basket. The false bottom or tray 25 fully protects pies, cakes, etc., which may be placed in the basket on the bottom 8 thereof. The interlocking hooks or lugs 21 and the elements 22 firmly but detachably secure the end flaps 18 and 19 in open position. To collapse the basket, the flaps 18 and 19 are disconnected and folded outwardly against the outside of the side walls 13 in the manner shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing, the cover sections 14 are folded inwardly and downwardly against said side walls 13, the bottom sections are folded upwardly against said cover sections and said side walls are pushed together. Then, the flexible carrying handles 23 are crossed and looped over the ends of the basket for securing the same in folded position. When not in use the folded basket may be stored in the false bottom or tray 25 which, of course, has been previously removed from said basket.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A folding picnic basket comprising a substantially rectangular, collapsible bottom including a pair of hingedly connected sections, side walls hingedly mounted on the bottom, cover sections hingedly mounted on the side walls and foldable between said side walls and said bottom sections, end walls comprising pairs of flaps hingedly mounted on said side walls and means detachably connecting the free ends of said pairs of flaps.

2. A folding picnic basket in accordance with claim 1, together with common means for carrying the basket in open position and for securing said basket in folded position, said means including flexible straps having their end portions secured to said side walls and of a length to be looped over the ends thereof when said basket is in said folded position.

3. A folding picnic basket comprising a substantially rectangular, collapsible bottom including a pair of hingedly connected sections, side Walls hingedly mounted on the bottom, cover sections hingedly mounted on the side walls and foldable between said side walls and said bottom sections, end walls comprising pairs of flaps hingedly mounted on said side walls and means detachably connecting the free ends of said pairs of flaps, said means a comprising complemental, interlocking hooks on said free ends of said pairs of flaps.

4. A folding picnic basket comprising a substantially rectangular, collapsible bottom including a pair of hingedly connected sections, side walls hingedly mounted on said bottom, cover sections hingedly mounted on the side walls, end walls comp-rising pairs of flaps hingedly mounted on the ends of said side Walls, spaced strips projecting from the freeends of certain of the flaps for receiving the free end portions of the other flaps therebetween, and means for detachably connecting the ends or said pairs of flaps.

5 A folding picnic basket comprising a substantially rectangular, collapsible bottom including a pair of hingedly connected sections, side walls hingedly mounted on said bottom, cover sections hingedly mounted on the side walls, end walls comprising pairs of flaps hingedly mounted on the ends of said side walls, spaced strips projecting from the free ends of certain of the flaps for References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,363 Daul Mar. 18, 1884 507,939 Simpson Oct. 31, 1893 582,229 Reynolds May 11, 1897 1,164,755 Rouse Dec. 21, 1915 1,180,294 Hunter Apr. 25, 1916 2,011,383 Taylor Aug. 13, 1935 2,216,277 Massey Oct. 1, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,701 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1930 

